Emily Wong and the 2013 Huskers will look to defend their Big Ten title this season.

Photo by BreAnna Haessler/NU Media Relations

Nebraska to Face Conference-Heavy Slate in 2013

By NU Athletic Communications

| 09/27/2012

Head Coach Dan Kendig and the Nebraska women's gymnastics team announced the Huskers' 2013 schedule of meets on Thursday. The Huskers, who finished No. 8 nationally in 2012, will face nine opponents that finished in the top 25 last season, including five that finished in the top 15.

The regular season should serve as an excellent tune-up for the defending Big Ten champions, as the Huskers will face all seven of their league opponents throughout 2013. The Big Red will welcome Michigan State, Illinois, Penn State and Iowa to the Bob Devaney Sports Center, while hitting the road to face Michigan, Ohio State and Minnesota.

Nebraska will add match-ups with several quality non-conference opponents this spring, including road meets against California and Arizona. The Huskers are also slated to face Centenary and 2012 NCAA Super Six competitor Arkansas in conjunction with NU's road meet against Minnesota. NU will host the annual Masters Classic in February, which will pit Nebraska against Boise State and Iowa State.

The Huskers will kick off the season on the road, facing the Michigan Wolverines on Jan. 12 in Ann Arbor at 4 p.m. Nebraska will return home the next weekend to welcome Michigan State to the Devaney Center on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.

The Big Red will take to the road again the following week, journeying to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. The Buckeyes finished No. 10 nationally last season and took second at the Big Ten Championships.

Nebraska will return to the friendly confines of the Devaney Center the following week to begin a two-meet home stand. The Huskers open the month on Feb. 1, hosting Illinois at 6 p.m. Nebraska will also face Penn State on Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.

The Huskers head west to challenge Arizona the next weekend, battling the Wildcats on Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. in Tucson, Ariz. NU will return home on Feb. 22 to host the Masters Classic, welcoming Boise State and Iowa State to Lincoln for the 6 p.m. meet.

Nebraska will host its final home meet of the season on Monday, March 4, competing against Iowa at 6 p.m. The meet will also serve as Senior Night for the Huskers, honoring Janelle Giblin, Kassandra Nathe and Brittany Skinner.

The Huskers will hit the road again for their final two regular-season meets of 2013, first traveling north to face Minnesota, Arkansas and Centenary in Minneapolis, Minn., on March 9. The meet is slated for a 6 p.m. start. NU will journey west for its regular season finale, challenging California on March 16 at 7 p.m. The meet will run in conjunction with a men's matchup between the California men's squad and the 2012 Big Ten champion Illinois Fighting Illini.

Nebraska's postseason action will begin on March 23 as the Huskers return to the conference championship stage to defend their 2012 crown. The Big Ten Championships will be held in East Lansing, Mich. NU's conference championships will be followed by the NCAA Regionals on April 6, and the NCAA Championships April 19-21 in Los Angeles, Calif.

The 2013 Huskers will return three All-Americans from last season's squad that finished No. 8 nationally. Senior Janelle Giblin, junior Emily Wong and sophomore Jessie DeZiel will help lead Nebraska as the team vies for its second consecutive Big Ten Championship and makes a run at the NCAA Championships in April.